Iranians condemn election vetting

More than 500 politicians and intellectuals in Iran have announced that they will not take part in the presidential election next month. In a statement, they said that the 17 June poll cannot be free and fair because Iran's Guardian Council was depriving people of free choice. The conservative Guardian Council has the powers of vetting the candidates.

A record 1,010 people have registered to run in Iran's presidential election next month, the interior ministry says.